17 students lost their lives and 13 students were severely injured as a result of a fire that broke out in a school dormitory in Kenya.

The cause of the fire at Hillside Endarasha School in Kenya's Nyeri region is still unknown, but police officials have stated that they expect the death toll to rise. Spokesperson Resila Onyango said, "We are investigating the cause of the fire and will take necessary precautions. An investigation team has been sent to the scene to determine how the fire started."

In a televised speech, President William Ruto said, "Our thoughts are with the families of the children who lost their lives in the fire tragedy at Hillside Endarasha Academy in the Nyeri region. This is devastating news. We pray for the speedy recovery of those who survived. I instruct the relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate this horrific incident. The responsible parties will be held accountable."

An investigation has been launched, and local media reported that Deputy Director of Criminal Investigations (CID) John Onyango and Director of Homicide Martin Nyuguto are leading the investigation.

Fires are common in boarding schools in Kenya. Many students stay in these schools because they believe they will have more study time without the need for their parents to travel long distances.

Some fires are started by students as a protest against workload or living conditions. In 2017, a school fire in the capital Nairobi claimed the lives of 10 high school students.